Ben Platt & Rachel Zegler - THE LAST FIVE YEARS (NYC/LA)- Page 3
Ben Platt & Rachel Zegler - THE LAST FIVE YEARS (NYC/LA)
Leading Actor Joined: 11/15/07
Ben Platt & Rachel Zegler - THE LAST FIVE YEARS (NYC/LA)#50
Posted: 4/8/26 at 12:29am
Went tonight. Was kind of bummed that they didn't have Playbills or programs. The space is definitely under-utilized, but there is also a limit to how much you can do with a two-performer presentation of a show. A good number of the audience members seemed to have no idea what was going on during the show based on some of the conversations I heard on the way out. It definitely isn't a show to see unless you know what the premise and structure is. That all being said, Rachel's voice is insane. I need her "Evita" ASAP!
Ben Platt & Rachel Zegler - THE LAST FIVE YEARS (NYC/LA)#51
Posted: 4/8/26 at 12:39am
Rachel sounded better tonight than she did during “Evita” which is insane. I can’t wait for the recording in a couple weeks.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/2/13
Ben Platt & Rachel Zegler - THE LAST FIVE YEARS (NYC/LA)#52
Posted: 4/8/26 at 9:18am
I'm curious if performers or producers of shows ever put clauses in their contracts that another production of a show can't open for X amount of years after the current one closes?
Bringing this concert to NYC feels like it was meant as an insult to the people involved in the recent Broadway production.
Or is Sonia Friedman involved in this?
Ben Platt & Rachel Zegler - THE LAST FIVE YEARS (NYC/LA)#53
Posted: 4/20/26 at 4:43pm
Anyone listen to the album? Rachel sounds great. Anyone who knows better than me know if these are the original orchestrations or expanded? I can’t tell.
Ben Platt & Rachel Zegler - THE LAST FIVE YEARS (NYC/LA)#54
Posted: 4/20/26 at 4:52pm
These are the expanded and revised orchestrations. I think the album sounds pretty great for a live album. The mix feels good and both leads sound great. Can't believe they recorded and mixed this in less than a month!
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
Ben Platt & Rachel Zegler - THE LAST FIVE YEARS (NYC/LA)#55
Posted: 4/20/26 at 4:53pm
They both sound incredible and I love that it's live. Ben's Jamie comes off as extremely sensitive while Norbert came off heartbroken, Jeremy came off angry, and Adam's (my favorite) came off incredibly hurt. My favorite song is Nobody Needs to Know, and it's very cool to have 4 different versions of it all sung incredibly well and all different.
Ben Platt & Rachel Zegler - THE LAST FIVE YEARS (NYC/LA)#56
Posted: 4/20/26 at 5:02pm
The Last Five Years is my second favorite musical of all time, and I've listened to just about every cast album and bootleg in existence. I think that makes me pretty qualified to say that Rachel Zegler gives the single greatest vocal performance I've ever heard for Cathy.
I asked JRB on Instagram, and he said these are the same expanded orchestrations from the Broadway production.
Ben Platt & Rachel Zegler - THE LAST FIVE YEARS (NYC/LA)#57
Posted: 4/20/26 at 6:10pm
I saw this when it was at Radio City and have spent a bit of time listening to the recording today.
Rachel is undoubtedly an incredible vocalist, she sings with such ease and power, but I personally find there to be a lack of emotion in her performances of these songs. She is young and I think needs a director to really pull something out of her. Still, a treat to hear her sing this music.
Platt I was doubtful of when he was announced, but I found his take on Jamie to be very unique and true to him. Thought he embodied the role very well and loved his take on Schmuel Song.
Always nice to get to hear this music sung so well!
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